Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: super dave on March 12, 2008, 10:08:55 AM

Title: weeping willow
Post by: super dave on March 12, 2008, 10:08:55 AM
so i've been looking around on this site (I,m not the best at finding things) and i can't find any thing on weeping willow flowers -- the Q i have is do bee like the flowers
thanks
dave
Title: Re: weeping willow
Post by: Alan Forbes on March 12, 2008, 02:34:09 PM
I found this:

"The catkins of willows, in contrast, are erect and produce abundant, scented nectar that attracts insects, especially bees and moths, which carry out pollination.  Insect pollination of the highly simplified flowers of willows is an exception to the rule in the plant kingdom that only plant groups with complex, showy flowers have their pollen distributed by insects. In the early spring, however, before most other flowers appear, insects rely on the nectar of willow catkins as a food source."

here:

http://au.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761570521/willow.html

Title: Re: weeping willow
Post by: super dave on March 12, 2008, 06:27:00 PM
cool thnaks
Title: Re: weeping willow
Post by: Dane Bramage on March 12, 2008, 09:59:14 PM
Quote from: super dave on March 12, 2008, 10:08:55 AM
so i've been looking around on this site (I,m not the best at finding things) and i can't find any thing on weeping willow flowers -- the Q i have is do bee like the flowers
thanks
dave

Yes.  Good (and early) pollen source.  pic link (http://flickr.com/photos/bienenwabe/431452777/) (lemon yellow pollen)